British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland ends Jonny Wilkinson's dream of one last tour Down Under

Lions head coach Warren Gatland has disclosed that French-based players such
as the Toulon contingent containing Jonny Wilkinson are almost certainly not
going to be considered for the tour party to Australia.

Warren Gatland is looking to take just two fly-halves to Australia, virtually ending Jonny Wilkinson's hopes of going on a final British Lions tourPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

Even though Wilkinson retired from international rugby last year, he has professed a desire for one more crack at the Lions. That is now beyond him. It is believed that Gatland will only take two specialist flyhalves, with Ireland’s Jonny Sexton and Owen Farrell of England the standout candidates.

Gatland has had no contact with any of the French-based players about their release in time for the tour and he will not be present for Toulon’s Heineken Cup quarter-final match against Leicester in a fortnight’s time, a game that was seen as a chance for current non-test players such as Wilkinson, Andrew Sheridan and Steffon Armitage to press their claims.

The availability of these players, and Wales halfbacks, Mike Phillips and James Hook, who play at Bayonne and Perpignan respectively, has long been an issue given that the French domestic final is on June 1, the same day as the Lions open their tour here in Hong Kong against the Barbarians.

Phillips would not be involved in those domestic play-offs but there is every chance that league leaders Toulon will be. It was put to Gatland that the likelihood was that these players would not be released.

“I wouldn’t think they would be,” said Gatland speaking in Hong Kong as a guest of principal tour sponsors HSBC.

“If there are any French players involved when it comes to selection, we might need to have conversations. But ideally we all want to be on the plane to Australia together.

If not, you don’t want players arriving a day or two before we play our first game in Australia against Western Force. It is tough enough as it is the most challenging coaching experience I’ve ever faced, and you don’t want to make it harder.”

Gatland revealed he is prepared to break with tradition by insisting his captain is not guaranteed his place in the Test team. Gatland does have a captain in mind but he has not yet approached him to discuss the matter.

“There is no room for sentiment in what is a results business and when we come to naming the starting XV against Australia the captain won’t be the first guy on the team sheet,” said Gatland.

“You can’t get too hung up on these things. Ideally, you would want your tour captain to be there but he’s got to warrant his place and be able to do the job. We’ll have to make a call at the time and if others are playing better, they will be in.”

The return to form of Gatland’s 2012 Grand Slam-winning captain, Sam Warburton, has thrust him to the front of the ratings. Warburton, though, was overlooked for the Wales captaincy as he worked his way back to fitness, Ryan Jones taking over in the interim. It’s believed that Warburton had the opportunity to lead the side against England in last weekend’s title-decider but opted to focus on improving his form, with prop Gethin Jenkins stepping in.

There are others in the mix, such as Ireland duo, Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell, captains on the last two Lions tours, and England’s Chris Robshaw. Gatland is adamant that whoever gets his vote must be a strong individual, able even to stand up to the head coach.

“The last thing I want is someone who does as he is told,” said Gatland. “I want a captain who has got his own strong values, one who is happy not just to stand up to me but also to the players if needs be, a bloke who will not fold under pressure.”

Gatland has 25 names already inked in and will spend the next five weeks finalising the last 10 to 12 names. The Wales head coach was hugely encouraged by events at the Millennium Stadium last weekend when Wales retained the title by beating England 30-3.

“That was the most intense, physical encounter I’ve seen since I’ve been in the northern hemisphere,” said Gatland. Gatland admits that his team will be ‘massively’ underprepared given that a large chunk of the squad will be involved in Premiership and RaboDirect finals on May 25.

"The Lions gather the next day although there will be mini-training camps in Wales and Ireland prior to that for those not involved in finals. The Lions leave for Hong Kong on May 27 after just one full training session.